Machine



10 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

'11.- E. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINE.

Patented Ju ly 30, 18:89.

% )%lvron H. Hams hnfmlithognnher. w=shm 1m D. c.

(-No'Model.) 7 10 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. E. KILBOURN, CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

N0. 408,180. Pate n'ted J111y'30, 1889.

10 Sheets-Sheet 3..

Patented July 30, 1889.

E. vE. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINE.

(No Model.)

- PETERS, Flwm-umugnpher, Wamm wmmc.

(No Model- 1 10 Sheets-Sheet 4." E. E. KILBOURN.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINE.

N0. 4.08.180. Patented Jul 30, 1889..

WITNESS 8:

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 6.

E. E. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 408,180. Patented July 30; 1889.

W/T/VESSES:

N. PUERS, hum-Limn m mn Washingmm u. c,

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

-E. E. KILBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 408,180. Patented July 30, 1889.

N. P EEEEEEEEEE -11 hhh h hh r. Wahi n. c.

(N0 i l.) 10 Sheets--Sheet 8-.

' E. E. KILBOURN. Y

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 408,180; Patented July 30, 1889.

. fly. /3? a WIN/E8858:

N, FUCHS. Phulo-Lilhngraphcr, Washi c.

'(No Model.)

7 10 Shee ts-Sheet 9. E. E. KILBOURN. GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 408,180. Patented July 30,1889.

ITIVESSESI:

u Pains, Phfllo-Lilhngmphcr. Washington. 0.1;

(No Model.) 10-SheetsShee t 10. E. E. KILBOURN.

GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE. 7 o. 408,180. ZP-mented July 80, 1888..

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N. PETERS. PMRoLilhagnphar. wuhin tnn. D.C.

- 25 a circular or cylinder knitting machine em- OF NEW KNITTING MAC EDWARD ELis'HA -KILBOURN,

TO THE KILBOURN PATENT OFFI E.

BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR HINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLAcE.

'CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFIGATION'forniing part of Letters Application filed June 14,1887.

To CI/ZZ 'Zl /7L07H/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ELISI-IA KIL- BOURN,.of New Brunswick, in the county of Middl'esex and State of New. Jersey, have made'an invention of certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing, in'a'connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a' 'full, clear, and exact descrip- [0 tion and specification of the same.

This invention has reference to circular or cylinder knitting machines, in which the needles are combined in a ring series, so that the yarn may be fed to the needles by a continuous' circular movement for the formation of successive rows of stitches or loops, and in which also the thread-guide may be moved to and fro for reciprocating work. I

The invention consists of certain new combinations of mechanical devices, which are set forth in'the claims at the close of this specification. In order that these may be fully understood, I have represented in the accoin- I panying drawings and will proceed to describe bodying them in the form in which I prefer to embody them for the purpose of knitting stockings, it being understood that the mechanism may be varied to suit the views of different makers and users.

Figure 1 of said drawings represents a front View of the'said machine without the needles. -Fig. 2 represents a view of the rear of the same. Fig. 2* represents'an end view 5 of. the circularly-moving thread-guide. Fig. 3 represents a top view of the said machine. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the same through the axis of the i'ieedlc-cylinder, some parts offt-he machine being represented in elevation. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section of the portion of the machine to the left of the axis of the knitting-cylinder, and Fig. 6 represents the corresponding longitudinal section of the other portion of the 5 machine to the right of said. axis, bot-11 sections being through the axis of the knittingcylinde'r. Fig. 5 represents avertical transverse section of a partof the nosing and'knit-. ting cylinder, showing the pin and groove hereinafter referred to. Fig. 7 represents a 'side ofone Serial No. 241,243. (No modeL) Patent No. 408,180, dated July 30, 1889.

vertical transverse section of parts of the machine at the .aXis of the count-wheel, with some parts in elevation. Fig. 8 represents a central vertical section of the cam-cylinders. Fig. 8* represents a horizontal section of one of them. Fig. 9 represents a View of the outof the carriers .of the machine, hereinafter described. Fig.10 represents a view of the inside of the same;'Fig. 11, a transverse section of the same, and Fig. 12 a top view of the same. Fig. 11* represents a transverse section of the same with an alternative arrangement of the guide-groove. Fig. 13 is a top view of the clutch mechanism hereinafter described. Fig. 1% is a face view of the ring and driver hereinafter described. Fig. 15 is a view of the back of one of the cog-wheels, showing one of the drivers. Figs. 16, 16*, and 17 are full-sized views of the needles used in the machine. Fig. 18 is a view of apart of the count-wheel and of the driving-pawl thereof. Fig. 19 is a view of a part of the count-wheel and the latch operated by the same. Fig. 20 is aview of apart of one of the change-vheelsand the'lateh oper'ated thereby. Fig. 21 is a view of apart of the holder of the latch-lever. Figs. 3*, 22, and 23 are views of parts of the belt-shipper devices. Fig. 2% represents a plan of parts of a modification of the mechanism. Fig. 25 represents a front view of the same, and Fig. 26 represents a partial cross-section thereof. Figs. 27, 28, 29, and 30 represent views of other modifications, as hereinafterdescribed.

The said machine is adapted to knitting stockingssuch as half-hoseby the following operations: First, the leg is knit down to the heel by means of the whole circular series of needles and of a thread-guide,which delivers thread to the needles for the successive rows of loops or stitches by a continuous circular movement; second, the narrowed portion of the heel is knitted by a part or gang of the circular series of needles being put out of operation, the remaining gang of the series 5 being operated in combination with a reciprocating thread-guide, and the. outer needles of the gang at work being put out of operation automatically and in succession until the Work is narrowed to the predetermined 10o knit in the same extent; third, the widened portion of the heel is knitted by progressively putting the outer I needles of the gang into operation with the reciprocating thread-guide until the work is widened to the predetermined extent; fourth, the straight portion of the foot of the stocking is knitted by putting the two gangs forming the entire circular series of needles into operation in connection with the circularmoving thread guide, knit; fifth,t-he narrowed portion of the tee is manner as the corresponding portion of the heel; lastly, the widened portion of the toe is knit in the same manner as the widened portion of the heel.

The drawings of the machine represent it with its members in the proper relative conditions for operating with the reciprocating thread-guide; but as it is most convenient to describe first the construction and operation of the machine for circular work .I will proceed in that manner.

The needles preferably used in the machine are latch-needles having pivoted latches of the usual construction, and the shank of each is secured to r made in one piece with a projection or nib, upon which cams act for the purpose of moving the needles. The needles are arranged in a circular series and are fitted -to slide up and down in the grooves of the knittingcylinder A and its nosing A. 1 prefer that the circular series of needles shall not be moved bodily while in operation, and the said machine is constructed on this plan. I therefore cause the needles to move up and down by means of two cams, which (as shown in section at B B, Fig. 4, and in elevation at- B B',Fig. S) are arranged one above the other and secured to cam-cylinders B B which are concentric with the series of-needles and are fitted to turn around the knitting-cylinder A, the lower cam-cylinder B being supported bya rin'g hearing or support I), and the upper cam-cylinder B being supported upon the.

lower. The lower cam-cylinder 13 is held in place by means of studs B secured to the ring-bearing,-which studs are received in a dovetailed groove 1) of the cam -cylinder. One of these studs is shown at Fig. 6*.

The upper cam-cylinder is held in place by means of screws 13 whose heads are'received in a groove 19 of the upper cam-cylinder. One of these screws is shown at Fig. 6. The upper cam-cylinder B is employed, preferably,

to operate the gang of needles, which are put bodily out of operation when the heel and toe of a stocking are knit, the lower cam-cylinder B being em ployed,preferably, to operate the gang of needles which are employed in combination with a reciprocating thread-guide to knit the heel and toe of the stocking. In order to adapt the needles to the positions of these cams, those needles 0, Fig. 17, which are to be operated by the upper cam B have their nibs I)" arranged at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam for circular work, and those needles 0, Fig. 16,

aswhen the leg was and C Fig. 165, which are to be operated by the cam 13 during widening and. narrowing, and which may be called the gang of fash ioning-need'les, have, their nibs 11 arranged at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam for both circular work and reciprocating work. The fashioning-needles C, Fig. 16, which are to be withdrawn and returned to the gang at work during narrowing and widening, are held out of the working positions in the gang when withdrawn (or raised too high to be operated by the cam B when reciprocating) by means of a holder applied, preferably, beneath their lower ends, orthe lower ends of their shanks or slides, as hereinafter described. Consequently the shanks 12 Fig. 16, of these fashioning-needles are made long and terminate in supplementary nibs or feet I), which are adapted to rest on the said holders. All the needles are guided when moving lengthwise of their shanks by being.v fitted to slide in grooves of the knitting-cylinder A and its nosing A, which proper relative positions. The nosing A is not secured rigidly to the knitting-cylinder A, but is made adj ustable. by being fitted to slide up and down within it without being turned and by being supported upon a screwed ring A whose screw-threads engage with an internal screw of the knitting-cylinder, so that the said ring holds the nosing in the position to which. it may be adjusted. By turning this screwed ring the nosing may be adjusted. higher or lower to correspond with the lengths of the loops that are to be drawn down by the needles. The nosing A is prevented from turning, preferably, by means of a pin and an upright groove, the pin being secured to andprojecting radially from the nosing, as represented at Fig. 5, and the upright groove being formed in the inner side of the knittingcylinder A. The upper cam-cylinder B is fitted at its upper end with a ring, by which the needles are held in place, and this ring is made in segments N, Fig. 8, which are held to the cam-cylinder by screws, so that a segment may be readily removed and replaced.

When the entire series of needles is operated for knitting straight circular work, (such as the leg of a stocking,) both cam-cylinders hold the needles in their Ice 13 B are caused to revolve continuously and simultaneously, so that each needle of the entire circular series is caused in succession to move lengthwise to and fro as required to take yarn for the loop formed by it and to cast off the preceding loop or stitch. For

this purpose the two cam-cylinders are then connected by gearing with themain drivingshaft D, to which the fast and loose belt-pulleys (Z d for the driving-belt are secured. I prefer to make the connection between the lower cam-cylinder B and themain drivingshaft D by means of a main wheel 6, secured to the lower cam-cylinder 15", the intermediate wheel e, fitted to turn. on a stud 6 the pinion e, secured 'to the upper end of the upright shaft, the

right shaft 6 the uprightshaft e, the beveled pinion e secured to the lower end of the upbeveled wheel c, gearing into the beveled pinion '6 the beveled pinion e 1 wheel 6 which is rectlyfrom the main thread-guide.

by means of two connected with the beveled wheel 6 and fitted to turn upon a shaft 6 and the beveled secured to the main driving-shaft D and revolves with it. therefore, the driving-pulley (Z is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow applied to it in Fig. 3, the lower cam-cylinder is caused to revolve continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow 0, Fig. 3. The upper cam-cylinder B is preferably caused to revolve by being connected with the lower canrcylinder B and the 'most convenient mode of connecting the two cam-cylinders is drivers, the one having the form of alug c secured to the cam-cylinder B which receives its revolving movement diother driver being latch lug c secured to the other cam-cylinder B This mode ofconnecting the two cam-cylinders for circular work by drivers is advantageous, because the cam-cylinders can then be readilyturned by hand independ- 'ent-ly of each other to place their cams in such positions that the heads of all the'needles are level, as they should be when work is set onto them; also, because if the one cam-cylinder B is turned backward it does not carry the other B with it, andbecause when one of the drivers is movable relatively to the inders the connection between the two is detachable and may at anytime be temporarily severed, a latch-driver being turned upward for that purpose.

In order that yarn or thread may be fed to the entire circular series of needles when knitting circular work, the thread-guide E is provided. This thread-guide is connected with the upper cam-cylinder B so as to be revolved with it at the requisite distance in advance of the cams B B of the cam-cylinders B and B to deliver yarn to the needles in succession before the said cams operate upon their nibs to depress them. In order that this circularly-moving thread-guide E may be readily moved 'out of its operating position when the heel and toe of a stocking are to be knit, it'is secured to a rocking stock f, Figs.2 and 2*, pivoted in the standards f,

which connect it with the cam-cylinder B and in order that the circular thread-guide may be held securely either when in or when out of its operating position a locking device is provided for that purpose. I prefer that this locking device shall consist of a spring lock-latch f whose nib engages with an arm f projecting from the stock f of the circular When the circular threadguide is out of its operating position, the lock-latch engages with the upper side of the end of said arm f, as represented at Fig. 2*, and when the circular thread-guide is in its operating position the locking-latch'f enlatch-guard f When, stock f of the driving-shaftD, and the preferably a pivoted or,

operation all the needles that cam-cylgages with the under side of the end of said arm f In order that the latches of the needles may be kept from accidentally flying up when knitting circular work and that they may be positively thrown down, I have used the which is connected with the circular thread-guide E, and therefore may be readily turned out of its operating position and turned into it, and may be locked in either position.

The heads of the needles work in combination with the nosing A, by the position of the upper edge of which the tightness of the loops drawn by the needle-heads is determined, and the partitions of this nosing between the needles consist of hooks a, with which the loops engage, so that when the needle-heads are raised the loops of the work are held by the hooks and do not rise with the needles. I prefer that these hook-partitions should be so combined with the nosing that the inclined inner edges 2, Fig. 6, of the shanks of the partitions are above the'rim y of the nosing, because the loops which are cast off by the needles are then guided i11- ward and downward by the said inclined edges and are out of the way of the needles when they are subsequently raised.

In order that'reciprocating work as well as circular work may be knit by the same machine, provision is made for throwing out of are not required for reciprocating work, which is eifec-ted by constructing these needles C, Fig. 17, as previously described, with their nibs adapted to operate in connection with one cam-cylinder only, and by disconnecting that cam-cylinder from the driving mechanism and permitting it to remain at rest. The remaining or fashioning needles, which constitute the gang for reciprocatin g work, are then operated by causing the other cam-cylinder to turn to and fro.

In the machine represented in the drawings the upper cam-cylinder B is the one which is disconnected from the drivingmechanisin for reciprocating knitting, and in order" that it and the needles which it controls may be held positively at rest during the production of reciprocating work it is combined with a locking device, (shown in-Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) which consists, preferably, of a notched latch F, with which a locking-lug a, secured to the cam-cylinder 13*, engages. The locking-latch Fis preferably arranged at the back of the -knitting-cylinder, and the locking-lugis preferably arranged to correspond eircumferentially with the middle of the cam B of the cam-cylinder to be locked, so thatwhen. it is locked the needles which are at rest are at the back of the machine.

' In order that the locking-latch may be readily moved out of itslockin g position and held there and may be readily moved into its looking position, it is connected with a-rock-shaft g, from which an arm projects. The end g of this arm is inclined, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, and is'withiu the range of an arm G, sccured to a second rock-shaft G, to. which a lever-handle G is secured. By moving the lever-handle G to the right hand the leverarm G is removed from beneath the arm g and the locking-latch is lowered into its locking position, and by subsequently moving the lever-handle G to the left the lever-arm G is forced beneath the arm g and the lockinglatch is raised from its locking position and is held in that condition until the lever-handle G is againmoved to the right. The lever-handle G thus controls the locking device of the cam-cylinder I3 If the extent of reciprocation of the camcylinder I3 which is to operate during the production of reciprocating work, is less than a whole revolution, it is not necessary to disconnect the detachable driying-connection afforded. by the latch-driver when the camcylinder B is locked and remains at rest, and in such case a fixed lug-driver may be substituted for the latch-driver; but when the extent of reciprocation of the cam-cylinder B is as great or greater than awhole revolution a disconnectible driving-connection is necessary, and when thisconsists of a latch-driver it is turned upward, and then the cam-cylinder B? is wholly disconnected from any drivingmechanism of the machine and remains at rest, although the other cam-cylinder may be reciprocated a full revolutionor more.

During reciprocating work I prefer to cause the cam-cylinder B to move to and fro by a portion of the same gearing which is used for causing it to move during circular work and to use supplementary gearing to complete the movement. ln'one of the machines which I have made to embody the greater part of the invention the same driving-shaft is used for both circular and reciprocating work; but I prefer to use a supplementary driving-shaft D for reciprocating work and to connect-so much of the gearing as is then used with that supplementary driving-shaft. This system of using two driving-shafts is attended with the advantage that each may be driven at the speed best adapted for thework to be" done,

the possible speed when circular knitting is being done being much greater than when the Y machine is doing reciprocating work. The portion scribed which is used in't-he said machine-for reciprocating work consists of the main wheel e, the intermediate wheel e, the pinion e the upright shaft e", the beveled pinion c and the beveled wheel e main gearing, which remains connected with the main driving-shaft, consists of the two wheels 6? 6 In order that the former portion may be reciprocated for reciprocating work, the beveled wheel a is not madefast to the beveled-wheel c and the connect-ion of the said beveled wheel c with the beve'ledwheel e" for circular work is effected by means of disconnectible drivers, which consist, preferably, of two lugs 71 h, Fig. 13, one of which is secured shaft D through of the main gearing previouslyde- The other portion of tlie moved, its hub is connected with a other lug is connected with the beveled wheel e which is driven by the driving-shaft D'for circular work. This mode of connection permits the driven wheel 6 to be moved to and fro nearly a complete revolution without affect-ing the driving-shaft D. A further extent of reciprocation is obtained by securing the lug h to a hub 71 upon which the beveled wheel e is fitted to turn, and by connecting this hub with the beveled wheel through the intervention of a notched collar h Figs. 13 and 14,upon the hub 7L2, and a pin h, secured to the beveled wheel 6 By making the notch of the said collar wider, so as to increase the play permitted betweenthc ends of thenotch and the pin h ofthe beveled wheel 6, the extent of reciprocation of that wheel may be increased to any extent required to operate the cam-cylinder of the gang of needles used for reciprocating work.

The supplementary driving-Shaft D is fitted wit-h fast and loose pulleys d d ,'to which a driving-belt is applied, and when it is in operation it is caused to revolve continuously.

In order to cause the portion of the main gearing above described and the lower cam-cylinder B -to move to and fro by means of the continuously-revolving supplementary shaft D, the portion of the main gearing above described communicating with the beveled wheel a is connected with the supplementary the intervention of. reciproeating gearing. In that form of this gearing which I prefer there is a reciprocating rack H, Figs. 2 and 3, and a pinion c which is driven by said rack, and is then connected with the beveled'wheel e. The stock of the reciprocating rack H is fitted to slide in bearto the back of the beveled wheel 6, while the ings connected with the main frame, and it is connected by a connecting-rod H, Figs. 2 and 3, with a crank H which is secured to the shaft H and this crankshaft is connected driving-shaft D by I with the supplementary means of the beveled wheels e 6 In order that the said reciprocating gearing may be connected with and disconnected from the cam cylinder E the connection is made through the intervention of a clutch I, Fig. 13, whose hub is fitted to slide upon the pinion-shaft c and is connected with it (so as to be turned by it) by means of'a groove of the usualconstruction. The clutch has a tooth 2', whichis fitted to engage in a notch formed in a collar 11' of the hub of the wheel 6 and the portion of the main gearing connecting it, with the cam-cylinder B and that cam-cylinder are caused to turn to and fro reciprocally by the continuous revolution of the supplementary driving-shaft D.

In order that the clutch may be readily shipper, one arm J of which is forked and engages in agroove of the clutch-hub I, while the other arm J has the form of a'handle by which the attendant can move the. clutch. The two arms J J are connected by arockclutch spline and said hub, and arranged to engage with a V latches of the needles from shaft J In order that the clutch-toothand p v is locked, the several gearwheels in-"evi'ou'slfy described are so propormakes on e revolution for each evolution of the cam-cylinder B when 0 ularwork is made.

During;reciproeatin-g work the yarn is fed to the of needles then at work by means of a supplemental r thread-guide E, which is caused tomqveto-and fro in a circular curve by a movement derived from that of the camcylinder Hthen'operating. In order that this supplementary thread-guide E may be moved out of the-Way while circular'work is being done and may readily be put in position for reciprocating work, it is connected pivotally with a movable bracket-arm E that is supported by a standard E at the back of the machine. The-hub g 'of the bracket-arm is fitted to turn on the head of the standard, and is provided with a pin 9 passed through hole in the collar g" of the bracket-standard E when the bracket-arm is in the position to hold the pivoted shaft g of the supplementary thread-guide centrally overt-he series of needles in the knitting-cylinder. Vhen the supplementary threadguide is to be thrown out of operation, this pin is withdrawn and the bracket-arm with the thread-guide is swung backward, so as to remove the thread-guide from its operating position, and it may be held when so removed by engaging the pin in a second hole in the collar g. As the supplementary thread-guide is caused to move in alternately reverse directions, a duplex latch-guard f is combined with it to keep the accidentally flying up when knitting reciprocating work.

The supplementary thread-guide is repre-' sented in the drawings in its operating position, and it is then caused to reciprocate by means of a cam E Figs. 2 and 8*,-secured to the collar of the lower cam-cylinder 13 The ends of this cam operate alternately upon the shank of the supplementary thread guide, and in order that the supplementary threadguide may stand at rest for a short period at each end of its reciprocating movement a spring-driver j, Fig. 5, is introduced between the cam E and the driving-arm E of the thread-guide, and stops E E Fig. 3, are applied to limit the reciprocating movement of the supplementary thread-guide. Thus when one end of the cam is driving the supplementary thread-guide to the right hand the stop E stops its movement at the proper time, and the spring-driver, yielding to the pressure of the oblique end of thecam, permits the cam to pass it. A corresponding operation takes place when the supplementary thread-guide is moved to the left hand and is stopped by the stop E in order that the yarnmaybesubjected to the proper tension, the thread-guide is fitted with a thread-tension regulator of one of the usual constructions, and a spring thread-take-up j, Fig. 5, also is. provided to take up and give out slack yarn, as is customary in the useof knittingmachines. tions of thread-tension regulators which I have used with success is represented at E Figs-l and 5, and consists of a pin having a slotted head.

The yarn is passed through the slot of the head of the'pin, and the. pin is turned more or less to make the yarn deviate more or less from a straight line or to encircle the pin more or less, as may be found necessar to produce the resistance to the free movement of the yarn required to produce the desired tension.

In order that the work may be narrowed while reciprocating work is being done, more or less (as required) of the needles at thesides of the gang of needles at work are successively moved out of their operating positions by raising them, and the needles are held out of the operating position until the widening of the work is to be eifected. Durin g widening the needles are released and That one of the usual construeare pulled back succ ssively to their.'operatin g positions by depressing them. The needles are raised and pickers K, Figs. 9, '10, 11, and 12, one for each side of the gangof needles doing reciprocating wor c. Each of these pickers isfitted to slide up and down in a carrier L, which is moved as required to place the picker in the position to operate upon the required needle. Each carrier is fitted to turn concentrically with the series of needles, so that the pickers ear the same relationship to whichever needle they operate upon. For this purpose the lower edge of each carrier is fitted in a circular groove of the frame-work at In, Figs. 5 and 6, and the upper edge of each carrieris fitted in a circular groove at 7:, Figs.5 and 6, in the under side of the ring-support b of the camcylinders, these grooves being concentric with the knitting-cylinder.

If preferred, the ends of the carriers may be grooved and the stationary grooves k k may be replaced by circular ribs, as shown at t'*, Fig. 11*.

In order that the same picker maybe used to move the needle for narrowing out of its working position and to move it for Widening into its working position, each picker is fitted with two lugs k 76*, Figs 10 and 11, one

depressed by means of of which k acting beneath the needle-shank,

pushes the needle out of its working position for narrowing,while'the other le acting upon the second nib I), Fig. 15, of the needle, pulls it back into its working position for Widening. The pickers are caused to move to and fro by means of a reciprocating cam K, Figs. 4, 5, and (5, which is preferably fitted to turn upon the stock a of the knitting-cylinder, and each picker K is provided with a pin kflwhich fits in the cam-groove of said cam, so that the movement of the grades of the cam-groove upon said pin causes it and the picker to move up and down in the carrier L. The

' which is supported in guides and has itsshank connected by a pin with an upright= lever N, whose lower end is pivoted to the i H of the machine, which, as previously de- Fig. 9, is applied to move it independently of the carrier. Vhen the vcarrier is moved in= in positionto move a needle out of the working the respective carrier L thereof.

dle-holder n consists, preferably, of a ring segment, which is supported at its outer edge picker-cam K is caused to reciprocate by connecting it with the supplementary driving-shaft D through the intervention of a cam. Thus the picker-cam has a ring-wheel I secured to the frame-work of the machine. To

this segment is secured a second segment a, Whose teeth engage with those of a rack' N,

frame-work of the machine. The lever N has two projections a M, Fig. 6,- which are within the range of the two members n n of a cam N which is secured to the crank-shaft scribed, is in this machine driven by the supplementary driving-shaft D. By reason of this connection of the picker-cam K with the crank-shaft the picker-cam is caused to turn' to and fro'correspondingly with the recipro cations of the reciprocating thread-guide and at the required times to operate the pickers K.

The best time at which a needle can be moved -out of operation for narrowing the work is in the interval of the knitting movementof the needle which occurs after thecam B of the cam-cylinder B while being moved in the direction toward the side of the gang of needles at which the needle is to be raised, has passed by-the nib of that needle and before the cam of the cam-cylinder B is returned to the position of the nib of that needle. is to be moved into its operating position for widening the work must be moved there by the picker before the leading end point of the cam B of the cam-cylinder B reaches that needle. The members of the cam N which operate the picker-cam K and the pickeream groove should therefore beso shaped as to move the pickers K at the said times, as above set forth.

When a needle is moved out of itsoperating position, it should be held positively from returning until it is again wanted for widening the work. This positive holding of the needle is effected in the machine represented in the drawings by means of the needleholder m, Figs. at, 9, 10,11, and 12, one of which is used for each picker and is connected with This nee- :by being fitted to move in a groove of the is movable in the carrier, and aspring m the direction'of thearrow on, Figs. 9 and 10, as hereinafter described, to place the picker position, the end of the holder-mis pressed lat- "ing position for the gang.

On the other hand,the needle which erally against the shank of that needle, the spring m yieldingrto permit. move without carrying the holder with it. Then when the needle is raised by the picker the holder-spring miforces the needle-holder beneath the raised needle andholds it positively in its raised position. The circular extent-of the needle-holder is sufiicien't to hold all the needles which are successively raised for narrowing the work. When the,carrier is moved outward'th at is, in the direction indicated by the arrow m Fig. 9, to place the picker in the position for drawing a needle into the workwidening the workthe needle-holder is moved with the carrier by reason of the end of the slot m Fig. 9, in the carrier- L, through which the needle-holder pin in passes, bearing against that, pin, and the holder is thereby moved from beneath the foot of the needle upon which the picker is tooperate, thus releasing it.

In order that narrowing or widening may be effected, the carrier must be moved to an extent equal to the distance between the centers of two needles, so as to remove the picker held by the carrier from the needle upon which it has operated to the next needle in The machine represented in the drawings 1S adapted to knitting stockingv heels and toes, in which the narrowing and widening at each side of the work is the same, and both -the carriers m are moved equally, but are. moved in alternate succession, so that the needles at opposite sides of the work may be moved or raised out of the working position, or depressed or moved into it in alternate succession. On the other hand, the carriers and pickers should not be moved while the needles upon which they are to operate are being moved by the cam B of the cam-cylinder B for knitting. Consequently after each carrier and its picker are moved they should remain at rest at intervals between their successive movements. The alternating movement of the pickercarriersL, with an interval of rest after each carrying or shifting movement of the needlepicker, is efiected by means of the drivingshatt, which operates or imparts motion to the cam-cylinder B for reciprocating work, the combination between each carrier and the said driving-shaft D being effected by inseparable combining mechanism, which, while imparting a positive and intermittent motion to each carrier from the constantly-revolving driving-shaft, does not contain any devices which are disconnectible or liable to separate while operating and which would leave the carrier free to befimoved accidentally or would permit the carrier to-miss being moved to the desired extent or to be overmovcd by momentum. When my entire invention is used, the machine (as previously described) is. fitted with two driving-shafts D and D,

and as in this case the supplementary driving-shaft D is the one employed to operate the cam-cylinder B for reciprocating work the carrier to I TO both screw-pinions Z Z.

the carriers L are combined with that 'drivn cating knitting by connecting it by the gear ing hereinafter described with the supplementary driving-shaft D, from which (as previously described) the reciprocating threadguide E receives its movement. The gearing between the screws Z Z and thesupplementary driving-shaft is preferably so proportioned in the machine represented in the d'awings that each screw is caused to revolve one-half of a revolution for each revolution of the crankshaft 11 that imparts the-reciprocating movement to the thread-guide E, and the pitch of the screws Z Z is double the pitch or gage of the needles in the series, so that a half-turn of the screw is sufiicient to move the carrier which it controls and the picker of that carrier from one needle to the next in the series. In order that the screws, although revolved continuously, may impart motion to the carriers at distinct periods, alternated with periods or intervals of rest of the carriers, during which the needles are knitting, each screw has an endwise movement imparted to it. This endwise movement is in the same direction as that in which the carrier is moved by the revolution of the screw during. each period in which the carrier should be moved,

so that during-this period the carrier is movedby the conjoined turning of the screw and its endwise movement. The endwise movement is in the reverse direction to that'in which the revolution of the screw tends to move the carrier during each interval of rest and is equal to the tendency of movement by the screw at that time, so that during the interval or period when the carrier is to remain at rest the endwise movement of the screw equals and counteracts the screwing movement, and consequently the carrier is not then moved, but remains at rest, notwithstanding the turning of the screw on its axis.

These endwise movements of the screws Z may be imparted to them by cams, and I prefer to use two cams for each screw, and tearrange these in the form of cam-collars Z Figs. 3 and 4, which protrude at the opposite sides of one of the bearings Z, in which the screw-shaft revolves. The screw-shafts are fitted with pins Z which bear against the cam-collars Z Z so that as these pins move during the turningof the screws along the inclined faces of the cam-collars the screwshaft Z and screw Z are caused to move endwise. v

During the narrowing of the work the carrier is caused to move inwardthat is,to approach the middle of the gang of needles then at work, in combination with the reciprocating thread-guideand during the widening of the work the carrier iscaused to move outward; In order that these movements in reverse directions may be obtained from the driving-shaft, while always revolving in the same directionfthe' screw driving-wheel Z is connected with the supplementary drivingshaft D of the machine represented in the drawings through the intervention of gearing, which comprises two racks, (or wheels operating as racks,) which are moved alternatel y i 11 opposite directions. Thus the screw driving-wheel Z which is fitted to revolve upon a stud secured to the frame of the machine, has secured to 1ts hub a beveled pinion Z Fi 4, whose teeth en 'a e with a bevb b b eled wheel Z whose hub Z is fitted to turn upon the cylindrical stock or shank a of the knitting-cylinder A. A corresponding beveled wheel Z having its teeth reversed,

the two beveled wheels Z Z turn simultaneously. At the side of the hub of these beveled wheels WhlOlbiS opposite to the beveled pinion Z a second beveled pinion Z is arranged, and this beveled pinion is connected with the supplementary driving-shaft D through the intervention of the wheel Z secured to the hub of the beveled pinion Z the intermediate wheel Zflsecured to the intermediate pin-ion Z (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the pinion Z (also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) secured to the crank-shaft H, and the beveled wheels 6 6 which impart motion from the supplementary driving-shat t D to the crank-shaft H. The diameter of the pinion Z is smaller than the space between the faces of the reverse beveled wheels, Z Z, so that it can operate in connection with one of said beveled wheels without touching the teeth of the other, and the shifting ofthe driving-pinion from one Z'" of the two beveled wheels to the other Z and vice versa,

changes the direction in which the two are driven, thereby reversing the turning move:

.9 is also secured to the same hub Z, so that ment of the pinion Z and of the screw driving-wheel Z and of the screws Z, and conseguently reversing the direction in which the carriers L are moved by the screws.

In order that the driving-pinion may be shifted automatically from one wheel to the other, the hub of the driving-pinion Z and of the wheel Z ,.seeured to that pinion Z 1s fitted to turn upon a stud Z", which is movable, it being held by an arm l, which is fitted to swing upon the axis of the lntermediate wheel Z as a center of motion, so that the driving-pinion Z maybe shifted from one beveled wheel Z to the other without affecting the engagement of the teeth of the wheel Z and pinion Z through which motion 1s transmitted to the driving-pinion, The driving-pinion also is provided with. a stud or roller Z Fig. 4, and ai'ail I upon which this are secured (preferably by screws, as represented in Fig. 5) between the wheels Z1", with the teeth of the segmentscorresponding with those of the wheels. Consequently when the driving-pinionimpelling either of the two wheels 1* or 1 causes the appropriate segment 1 110 come into gear with the pinion-teeth the pinion runs. in the segment and shifts from one of the wheels Z Z to the other, and the end of the rail Z isin the proper position to permit the stud or roller ,Z of the. drivingpinion Z to pass around it during this shiftin g operation.

The extents of the portions of the wheels 1 Z which are between the segments Z and which are operated by the driving-pinion Z before shifting, determine'the number of turns imparted to the carrier-screws Z, and consequentlythenumber of times the carriers are moved, and the number of needles that are moved into operation during the widening of the work and the nnmber that are moved out of operation during the narrowing of the work. As the wheels If I are moved alternately in opposite directions, they operate as racks having a rec-iprocating movement, and as they operate to changethc direc-, tion in which the carriers are moved ldenominate them change -wheels or changeracks.

It will be noticed that the segments Z which connect the change-wheels or the portions of them acting as change-racks, are set behind or within the teeth of said change wheels or racks. This is an advantageous construction for several reasons, 'lhus it is convenient, because it permits the two beveled wheelsl 1 with their hub,to be readily east in one piece. It also permits machines of the same pattern tobe readily adapted to the widening and narrowing of work to a greater or less extent by setting the segments farther apart or nearer together, thereby increasing or diminishing the extent of the change-racks between the two segments. In the machine which is represented in the drawings, also, the'construction is advantageous, change-wheels to be used to operate the driven pinion 1 for as the'segments Z are at the inside points of the teeth of the wheel Z and of the pinion Z the said segments do not interfere with the said pinion, but pass by it in their reciprocating movements. \Vhen the segments Z are secured to the change-wheels by screws orrivets, the change in their position may be readilyetfected by inserting the screws or rivets in screw-holes or rivet-holes,

which are nearer together or farther apart in the change=wheels.' in the positions of the segments hthelength of the rail W'must be correspondingly length- NVhen a change is made ened o-r shortened, as the segments are set farther apart or nearer together.

fdriving-shaft being moved to a greater extent thread-guide can bemoved by its cam because it permits one I of the "same' l", Z and the various cog-wheels and pinions which have been described to connect-the change-wheels with the screwat one side of them and with the driving-shaft D on the other side of the change-wheels, and it also appears that this combining. mechanism is an inseparable train of mechanism or gearing, or, in other words, is at all times free of adisconnection of any of its members which would free the carrier from the control of the Consequently the movement of the carrier is always positive and to the exact required extent to shift the picker from one'needle to the next of the series, and there is no possibility of thecarrier being shifted by-accident, or of missinga movement, or of than is required.

\Vhen the machine is narrowing or widenin g, it is desirable that the thread-guide which is; then reciprocating should have its extent of motion varied to suit the less or greater extent of the narrowed or widened work. In order that this variation may be effected, the stops E E are combined with the picker-earriers L, so as to be moved with the latter,

the most convenient mode of combining them being to connect the stops with the pickercarriers L by means of brackets E E hence whenever a picker-carrier is moved the corresponding stop is moved to vary the extent to which the reciprocating or supplementary E. If this part of the invention is not to be used, the stops E may with the frame-work of the machine; but in this case the thread take-up is required to take up and let out materially'more thread than is necessary when the'said part of my invention is used, The practical effect of .limiting the movement of the reciprocating thread-goide'by stops and permitting the needle-cam B, which is then reciprocating, to be moved past the thread-guide by the continued movement of its cam-cylinder B is to transfer the reciprocatin g or supplementary threadguide from one side to theother of the reciprocating needle-cam, so that the thread-guide is in advance of that cam in whichever direction the cam be moving. tant in a machine in which the work is narrowed or widened whether the stops E E be moved wit-h the picker-carriers or be fiXtu res, because the transfer obviates the necessity of using switch-cams, which tend to break the needles, and which also permit a certain amount of freedom of movement of the nee dles, which is obj ectionable, particularly when the cylinder-nosing A is constructed with hook-partitions a, such freedom, a needle should drop in adlhis transfer is i mporfor if, in consequence ofv ICC be connected immovably 'IIS pulleys d d I vided for each set of belt-pulleys.

Vance of its proper time of movement the yarn would be unduly strained upon the hookpartitions. p i

In the usual Operation of knitting-machines of the class to which my invention appertains it is customary shifting the driving-belt from the fast pulley to the loose pulley, resented in the drawings has two sets of beltand d (l a beltshipper is pro- The beltshipper P for the belt-pulleys of the main driving-shaft D is connected wit-h a slide-bar p, fitted to slide endwise in bearings in the frame of the machine, and the belt-shipper P for the belt-pulleys of the supplementary driving-shaft D is connected with a slide-bar p, which also is fitted to slide in hearings in the frame of the machine. A spring is provided to shift each belt-shipper from the fast pulley to the loose pulley, the spring p Fig. 3*, for the belt-shipper for the main drivingshaft D being connected with its slide-rod 17, and thespring p for the belt-shipper for the supplementary driving-shaft D being connected with its respective slide-rod p. In order that each belt-shipper may be held in its position for holding the, belt on the fast pulley, a spring-actuated holding-latch is proof.

vided, the holding-latch p Figs. 1 and 22, the main driving-shaft belt-shipper P, being fitted to engage with a lug s of its slide-rod p, and the holding-latchp Figs. 1 and 23, of the supplementary driving-shaft belt-shipper P being fitted to engage with a lug s of its slide-rod 19. When either of these holdinglatches or holders is disengaged by the operator, the belt-shipper whichit controls is freed and permitted to shift the appropriate driving-belt from the fast to the loose belt-pulley. As there are two driving-shafts in the machine represented in the drawings and one only is operating ata time, confusion might arise in themind of the attendant as to which of the two spring-holders was to be moved in case the machine was to be stopped suddenly and which belt-shipper was to be moved to put the machine again at work. To obviate any difficulty from this cause, both springholders and both shipper-rods are arranged to'be operated bythe same shipper-lever R,

which is common to both belt-shippers, and

a'shifting device is provided to change or shift the position-sot the connections between the belt-shippers P P B, so that the shipper-lever controls only the belt-shipper of the main driving-shaft D when circular work is being knit and controls only the belt-shipper of the supplementary driving-shaft D when the reciprocating and narrowing and to stop the machine by I and as the machine repand the shipper-lever grooves formed, in this example, per-rods pp, (or in one of theni,) through which groove or grooves the pin .3 protrudes. The shifting-pin s is movable in inclined in theshipef slots formed in the connections with the beltshippers P P. Theseinclined slots 3 and. s? are preferably formed in hooksr 1: ,fwhich are pivotally connected with the shipper-rods p p, and the slots are inclined in reverse; directions, as represented at Figs. 22 and 23, so that when this shifting-pin s is moved in one direetion, as indicated by the arrow 3 Fig.

23, it Will raise one hook 7" into a position for engaging with the shipper-lever Band will depress the other hook r so that it cannot engage with the shipping-lever R. When the shifting-pin s is moved'in the reverse direction, the positions of the two hooks are reversed. The same shipping-lever R is em ployed to release the spring holding-latches p 1)", its lower end being for that purpose fitted at its front and rear sides with transverse lugs 3 which extend under the bodies of the two holding-latches p so that as these lugs rise by being turned with the shipping-lever on its fulcrum-stud the lug which is beneath the holdinglatch that is engaged with its shipper slide-rod is raised to release that slide-rod and its belt-shipper.

"In order that the, proper belt-shipper, and its appurtenances may with certainty be operated by the shipper-lever, the slide-rod S of the shifting-pin 8 that controls the hooks r r of the belt-shippers, is connected with one arm 5 of the lock-lever G, so that whenever that lock-lever is moved to permit the lockin g-latch F to secure the can1-cylinderl3 and consequently whenever the supplementary driving-shaft D is to impart reciprocating movements to the reciprocating thread-guide E and to the cam-cylinder B for reciprocating knitting, the shifting-pin s raises the hook r of the belt-shipper P for the supplementary driving-shaft D and places the hook r of the belt-shipper P for the main driving-shaft D out of the condition for en gagement with the shipper-lever R. When, on the other hand, the lock-lever G is moved to disengage the locking-latch F and release the cam-cylinder B so that circularwork may be knitted and the main driving-shaft D may be used, the shifting-pin .is moved (by reason of its connection with the lock-lever) to raise the hook r of the belt-shipper P for the main driving-shaft D, and to place the hook r mentary driving-shaft D out of the condition for engagement withthe shipper-lever B. By reason of the employment in the machine of the said belt-shipping mechanism the attendant is relieved of the necessity of thinking which of the two belt-shippers should be operated and the risk .of putting the improper driving-shaftinto operation or of not shifting the belt of the proper one is prevented. When the belt of the supplementary driving-shaft D is shifted to stop the operaof the belt-shipper for the supple- IIO rocating movement of the cam-cylinder B is in line with -its for reciprocating work should always be stopped with its cam in the same position, which for the machine represented in the drawings is that which the cam' occupies when the crank H (through which motion is transmitted to the cam-cylinder B that is used for reciprocating work) is in line with its connecting-rod H, as represented in Fig. 2. The means which I prefer to'use for this purpose consist of a stop-lever Q, which is pivoted to the stop-cam Q, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

which is secured to the crank-shaft H with the tooth of the cam in position to be stopped by the tooth of the stop-lever when thecrank connecting-rod. The stoplever Q has a handle Q which protrudes through a slot in the top of the frame of the machine, so that the stop-lever may be readily reached by the attendant; but in order that this stop-lever may be readily disengaged from the stop cam when reciprocating knitting is to be done, and that said lever may be put againin the stopping v knitting is to be done, the stop-lever Q is connected with the lock-lever G'by means of a link q,c onnecting with an arm q of the locklever rock-shaft G so that the attendant has to operate but one lever (the lock-lever) to lock or unlock the cam-cylinder B which is used only for circular work, and to move the stop-lever Q to stop or release the mechanism for reciprocating, work.

It is expedient that the attendant should know without counting the number of rows of circular work that'is knitted, so that theattendant may know when the operation of the machine should be changed from circular work to reciprocating work. It is also expedient that the machine should be automatically stopped when the requisite extent of circular work has been-done, For-these purposes I prefer to use acounting device,which is driven from the main driving-shaft Dby gearing, so as to be moved slowly and progressively for each row of stitches of circular work that is knit. For this purpose I prefer to use a "count-wheel T, which is combined with the main drivingshaft by differential gearing, as hereinafter described. 1

into one of aseries of division-holes 25., formed in saidcount-wheel, which is distant from the commencing or zero point holes as many holes as correspond with the rows of stitches to be knit. In order that this index-pin may stop circular knitting when the required number of rows of stitches have been knitted, the latch 13 of'the belt-shipper P is fitted with an arm ii in posi ion to be 4 moved by the index-pin t whenthe required number of rows of stitches have been knitted,

so that the latchof the belt-shipper for the main driving-shaft will then be disengaged the loose pulley by the spring frame of the machine, and a position when circular of the division-:

and the belt will be shifted from the fast to described, for that purpose. V

'In order that the count-whe l T may be readily adjusted, I prefer to cause it to be turned by means of a spring-actuated pawlt which engages with a- 15 formed upon the rim of the count-wheeln Consequently the count-wheel may be readily adjusted by turning it by hand, the pawl being held out of engagement.- with the teeth of the count-wheel in case it is expedient to turn the latter backward.

The differential gear which I prefer to use to transmit a slow movement to the countwheel consists, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, of the two beveled facing-wheels U U, the two beveled pinions U? U secured, respectively, to the wheels U U, and the traveling pinion U, geared simultaneously into the beveled pinions U U The traveling pinion U is pivoted to an arm U, which projects from a sleeve that is fitted to turn upon the shaft U of the count-wheel T, and has also the paw arm 15 Fig. 18, secured to it. The wheel U and pinion U are fitted to turn loose upon the sleeve of the traveling pinion, being held in their proper positions wheel U and pinion U are fitted to turn loose on the shaft U of the count-wheel. The two wheels U U, with their pinions U U are caused to turn simultaneously. in reverse directions by means of a pinion U", which is common to both and which is connected with the main driving-shaft through the intervention of the beveled wheelsv U U. The two pinions U U are differential pinions, one U of them having one more tooth than the other. Consequently at each revolution of these two wheels the traveling pinion U with its sleeve, is caused to turn a small distance around the axis of the count-wheel and to move the count-wheel slowly with it by means of the pawl 25".

In order that reciprocating knit-tin g maybe stopped automatically when the carriers L have been moved the required number of times for the extent of narrowed and widened work, one of the change-wheels 'is combined with a stop. For this purpose I prefer to fit one of the change-wheels 1 with a stop it, Fig. 20, of pin form,

moved by said stop it when the movement'of the carrier and reciprocating knitting are to be stopped. As the latch 19 is automatically moved when its arm 11/ is moved, the shipper I is released and is then moved by the spring previously described and shifts the belt from the fast pulley d to the loose pulley d In'order that the lock-lever G may be held in either position in which it is placed, it is connected with a spring V, Fig. 21, which tends to p previously by collars, and thehold it when vibrated to the end of series of ratchet-teeth and the latch p is provided with an arm n in the position to be I also use an index-pin t, which is screwed its movement in either direction, and is strain ed when the lever is moved from either of Its extreme positions. The clutch-shipper 

